Amber knew who the bachelors were well in advance of Kyle and Taryn’s wedding in the summer of 2013. Jason was just hoping to get to the rehearsal on time…but Amber caught his eye as soon as their paths crossed coming through the door to the wedding venue at Tall Timbers. From the start, there was an interest and connection that they both felt. However, they lived about 2,200 miles apart, and Jason was making plans to move overseas long-term as a missionary pilot—it was the perfect set up for a mutual “friend-zoning.” Over the next few years, Amber would reach out to Jason every few months by text message. Jason would usually respond in 3 to 5 business days…sometimes longer (but who’s counting?). They would also get together with mutual friends every year or two as Amber’s travels took her near the Washington, DC area. On one such trip, in 2019, Amber had a free afternoon in DC and asked Jason for some ideas of what to do. Comfortable with their 6 year friendship, Jason accidentally offered up a list of date-like ideas. During an afternoon of walking through Georgetown to find tiny pies, Jason discovered that he really enjoyed b e i n g with Amber. She must have enjoyed being with Jason too, because she asked by text if he wanted to be more than friends. Jason panicked. Although he thought the world of Amber, pursuing long-term international missions work was still his priority in life. With a heavy heart--and typical unromantic guy sensibilities--he essentially told her “thanks, but no thanks” in a return email. (cringe) To his pleasant surprise, Amber quickly and very graciously responded back in a positive manner about her willingness to stay connected as just friends. This began a two year period of increased communication about mutual interests such as travel and baked goods, as well as more mundane things like car accidents and illnesses. During those two years, Jason’s hopes of flying overseas came to an end. But as that proverbial door closed, God opened another one—Amber was coming back to the east coast for a visit. After the whole “thanks, but no thanks” email, Jason was surprised at the invite to Tall Timbers. Instead of overthinking it, he simply headed off to a weekend with friends—nothing more. Or so he thought. As Amber and Jason kayaked on the Potomac River, something turned in Jason’s heart. He began to fall in love with her. Meanwhile, Amber’s mind was in overdrive with the news that the magical Dr. Pilot was trading his headset for scrubs and returning to full time hospital pharmacy work. After the weekend was over, Jason did not want his time with Amber to end. He eagerly accepted every offer to hang out with her. Third wheel at a dinner in Arlington on Sunday? Yes, please. Chauffeur to Georgetown for more bakery adventures on Monday? Absolutely. This time, when Amber (bravely?) revisited the idea of being more than friends, Jason didn’t panic. He offered to call Amber—for the first time in 8 years of being friends. He wasn’t up to Hallmark movie standards yet, though… his answer to being more than friends was, “It’s not a ‘no’.” (yikes) Somehow, that worked! Now they were talking on the phone routinely. Better yet, Jason finally booked a trip to go see Amber. That was December 2021, and the next 14 months were an amazing, exhausting blur of a long-distance relationship from 2,177 miles apart (but who’s counting?).

After a year of long-distance dating, Amber was ready for a fiancée upgrade. Jason wanted the proposal be memorable and a surprise, but that last part was tricky. Amber plans out every detail of her life, and being 2,177 miles apart doesn’t offer many surprise visits. Jason was secretly at work finding the perfect high maintenance, yet frugal, diamond. He was also working on a proposal that didn’t involve a big crowd, a banner-towing airplane, a hike to the top of a mountain, a restaurant–especially not a restaurant on Valentine’s Day. When Jason arrived in Phoenix for a week in February, Amber asked if the proposal would occur on that trip—you know, for planning purposes. He broke the news that he didn’t even have the ring yet. She was disappointed—especially since a few trips ago he said they would probably get engaged…in a few trips. With Amber resigned to the fact that she would not get engaged on this trip, Jason had some cover. Although he did not have the ring when they talked on Saturday, he picked it up in Phoenix on Monday. With the ring now in his possession, he could turn his attention to other things…like getting her dad’s blessing at a “birthday breakfast” that an unknowing Amber set up for them. Then, on Tuesday, he brought up a seemingly spontaneous idea to drive to Coronado on Friday for a beach sunset. He knew she couldn’t resist the power of her two favorite things. Friday morning, everything was on track… until Amber’s grandmother, GG, who had heart failure, took a turn for the worse and called 911. Not knowing if Jason actually had a ring, Amber’s mom said privately to him that it would be nice if he could show GG the ring before she died. At this point, Jason could not prioritize his desire for a secret proposal over GG, Amber’s jewelry mentor. He gave up his well-kept secret, let Amber know that he now had the ring, and they rushed to see GG. After she was stabilized, Jason was able to give GG a sneak peek of the ring, and she approved. With an emotional morning behind them, Amber and Jason headed to California. He did the right thing but was discouraged to blow his cover. On the drive, he began to realize the surprise proposal might still work. So he carried on as if nothing more than an impromptu 6-hour road trip for a beach sunset on a cloudy day was in the works. To the surprise of every meteorologist, God moved the clouds just in time for sunset. Nothing could stop the proposal now! Except…they got locked out of their friend’s house–with the ring still inside–1 hour before the photographer's arrival. Jason frantically climbed up to the second story balcony, praying for an open door. Amber, unaware of the countdown to be in position for the photographer, calmly called her friend and arranged to have the housekeeper bring a spare key within 5 minutes. Teamwork. With all the craziness behind them—and an amazing sunset in front of them—they settled in to a good spot at the beach. Jason saw and secretly acknowledged the photographer. Despite thinking to herself that this was the perfect time and place for a proposal, Amber made the most of it. She was having such a good time, Jason had trouble getting her attention. When he finally got her in position, Jason got on the requisite one knee and began his rehearsed proposal. It wasn’t until she saw the ring (and the photographer) that she knew it was really happening! All he remembers hearing was “I do” (which seems a step early in the process). Amber also said, “Are you going to put it on my finger?” He forgot to rehearse that part. Beach, check. Sunset, check. Surprise, check. Photographer, check. Amber in love with her ring, check. A “Yes” (of sorts), check. When all of the hustle and bustle of the golden hour photo shoot was over, they could finally relax. They shared stories and an order of fajitas at her favorite local restaurant. But with a 200-person wedding to plan in just over three months, they couldn’t relax for long.